Apparatus for forming hollow concrete walls



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WILLIAM A. OTTERSON, O- BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING HGLLOVJ CONCRETE WALLS.

Application led September 8, 1922. Serial No. 586,982.

z' various kinds of structures. i

Various attempts have been made to provide relatively simple and efficient means for the formation of openings within a concrete wall but heretofore all such apparatus has been complicated, expensive and inefficient practically.

One feature of the present invention con- Y templates the 'formation of a, hollow wall inv a series ofV courses, the openings in each course serving to position and locate properlyI designed collapsible forms for the next succeeding upper course. A further feature of the invention contemplates the provision of a new and improved collapsible form which is simple and inexpensive and may be readily. withdrawn from the opening after the setting of the concrete.

Still 'further features ofthe invention consist 'in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements 'of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to'those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings illustrat-r ing the preferred form of the invention Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a wall in course of construction in accordance with the present invention, Fig. v2 is an end elevation of one'of the collapsible forms, Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the form, and Fig. 4 is a cross section of the form illustrating the expanding wedges in operative position.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art thata hollow concrete wall with properly designed and located openings therein has distinct advantages over a solid monolithic wall, as the hollow wall permits a distinct and marked saving in the use of cement and in addition is less permeable to moisture and to the transfer of heat. According to the present invention openings in such a `wall may be formed relatively simply and easily through the use of the improved type of collapsible form. As indicated more particularlyin Figs. 2'to 1 inclusive of the drawings this form 'comprises a series of relatively thin sheet metal members indicated respectively at 10, 12.; 13 and 14. Each of these members is provided with a relatively long side portion 16 and a relatively shorter end portion 18 extending at right angles thereto. In addi tion each of the members is provided upon either the side or end portion with flanges 2O which are designed to embrace the corresponding portion of the cooperating member and to cause the two members to telescope upon one another in a manner which will be evident to those skilled in the art. These telescoping flanges extend inwardly from the members and do not obstruct or break, up the continuity of the outer surface of the` form. rI`hrough the provision of the telescoping members, which complete the assembled form, the latter may be eontracted or expanded both longitudinally and transversely. In addition two of each four members constituting the completed' form are interchangeable. In order to retain the form in an Vexpanded condition transversely a series of cooperating wedges of wood or similar material are conveniently employed. As indicated, one of the wedging members 22 is secured by fasteners 24 to the side portion 16 of theform members and cooperates'with a sliding wedge member 26 having a grooved face 28 engaging with a similarly shaped tongue 30 formed upon the wedge member 22. In actual practice, after the firstcourse has been laid the lower end of each form is positioned bythe opening in the course and the sliding wedges are then dropped into place to retain the form in expandedcondition during the pouring Vand setting of the concrete, as indicated clearly in Fig. 1. It will be obvious, from an inspection of the drawings, that the several wedge members areV interchangeable and that the sliding wedges 26 project above the tops of the forms in such a manner that they may be readily engaged and removed to permit collapsing of the form. It has been found that the friction of the concrete upon the long walls of the form is sufficient to mnner.

prevent collapsing of the forms longitudi-V nally and avoid the necessity of providing internal means for this purpose.

It has been discovered that a hollow con* crete wall, such as disclosed in Fig. 1, with a series of staggered openings 40, may be simply and cheaply erected through the use ofthe collapsible form in the following Prior to pouring the first course of concrete the outer wall forms are erected and the collapsible forms are then located in position, blocks of concrete or other material of suitable size being interposed between the outer forms and the bases of the collapsible forms to maintain them in a given position. Thereafter the concrete is poured to a point somewhat below the tops of the forms, lea-ving the tops of the forms and the wedges projecting thereabove. After the concrete has hardened sutliciently the sliding wedges are either completely or partially withdrawn from the forms'suiciently to permit a partial collapse of the latter, andthe forms lare then drawn upwardly into substantially the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the forms project downwardly for a short distance into the previously formed course and upon dropping the sliding wedges into place are maintained lirmly in this position. When the outer wall forms are then erected the concrete for the next coursermay be immediconcrete has set the operation may be re-V peated until the desired height of wall is obtained. Y Y

It will be obvious that this method of formation of the hollow monolithic wall does not interfere with the setting of window or door frames in the wall, and provides a simple and eflicient method of forming any desired number and size of openings in a simple and etlicient manner. Furthermore, the vinterchangeability of dierent partsof the forms themselves, together with the wedges, permits broken portions of the forms to be readily replaced wit-hout the necessity of keeping a large stock of parts on hand. In order to facilitate the collapse of the forms and prevent the concrete from adhering thereto it is desirable to treat the outer surfaces of the forms with some form of lubricant, andif such a method is employed the parts may be readily telescoped Y on one another to collapse the forms after the concrete has hardened.A

It will be furthermore understood by those skilled in the art that the telescoping members are made of relatively thin sheet material andthe proper shape is maintained during operation by the series of sliding wedges which are spaced at substantially uniform intervals longitudinally of the form, these wedges serving to'maintain the proper spacing of the walls and prevent arching or bending of the latter due to the pressure of the mass of concrete.

While it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown and' described, it will beunderstood that this construction and arrangement is not essential except so far as specified in the claims and may be changed or modified without departing from the broader features of the invention.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is: Y

l. An apparatus for forming hollowconcrete walls comprising sheet metal members, each having a side portion and an end portion, each of the members having inturned flanges adapted to embrace a portion of a cooperating member and causing the two members to telescope on one an other, to permit the assembled form to'be expanded or contracted both laterally and longitudinally, a series of wedges secured to the side portions ofcertain of the members, and cooperatingV wedges loosely inserted in the forms and interposed'between the first mentioned wedge members and the lopposite side of the form, the withdrawal of the sliding wedge members permitting the collapse oftherform laterally.' Y

2. An apparatus for forming hollow concrete wallsvcomprising a series of sheet metal members, each Yhaving a'straight sidi portion and a straight end portionfextending at right angles thereto, meansforcausing` the members to telescope 'on one another when in assembled position, a series of wedges secured tothe side portionsV of certain of the members, and a series of slidlOll ing wedges loosely received within the form i and interposed between therlirst mentioned wedges and the opposite side of the form to expand the form laterally.

WILLIAM A. OTTERSON, 

